World Environment Day 2009

Hello, and happy World Environment Day! This year it's Mexico's turn to take hold of what's been a major event in the green calendar since 1972. This time it is with the (somewhat clunkily worded) theme of Your Planet Needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change.

In case you've never heard of the UN-backed WED, it's one of those giant international expo-led events that seem to completely divide opinion. Some think of them as vital for promoting the understanding of important issues, some see them as gaudy, expensive and not a little ineffective.

"On this World Environment Day, I encourage all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner," said the UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, getting into the swing of things.

"Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park. Hold corporations responsible for their environmental practices. And urge your government representatives to seal the deal in Copenhagen."

Normally on occasions like this, I tend to be a bit cynical - probably no doubt commentating on the lack of effectiveness that NGOs, world governments and the UN have when it comes to programmes like this.

Today, I'm going to have to break with habit. Despite the slightly dreamy tone of Mr. Ban's statement, his latter point is a important one to consider, with WED serving as a precursor to the climate convention meeting in Denmark in December, where world leaders are expected to wrap up negotiations on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol.

That is not the only thing I found encouraging though. With the recession making more and more people think that green issues should be put on hold, hearing Mr. Ban say that "If we invest even part of the substantial new economic stimulus packages in the green economy, we can turn today's crisis into tomorrow's sustainable growth" didn't just sound positive, but attainable.

And that's no bad thing, right?